‘Palestine’ Never Appeared on Our Maps, Google Tells Protesters

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The Google homepage. Google Maps is one of the world’s largest sources of geographic data. Photo: Google.

JNS.org – Internet giant Google on Thursday clarified that, contrary to recent reports by a Palestinian group, it had not removed the “Palestine” label from its maps application.

A statement by the Forum of Palestinian Journalists, posted on its website on Aug. 3, condemned “the crime carried out by Google in deleting the name of Palestine. We call on Google to rescind its decision and apologize to the Palestinian people.”

The statement continued, “The move is designed to falsify history, geography as well as the Palestinian people’s right to their homeland, and [is] a failed attempt to tamper with the memory of Palestinians and Arabs as well as the world.”

As Google Maps is one of the world’s largest sources of geographic data, more than 200,000 people heeded the organization’s call and signed a petition demanding Google reintroduce the label. The protest sprouted a popular Twitter hashtag as well: “#palestineishere.”

However, Google maintains it never had a “Palestine” label on its maps to begin with and the allegations are baseless.